Related Experiment Videos
Anxiety and medical disorders
Jacqueline E Muller1, Liezl Koen, Dan J Stein
1Medical Research Council Unit on Anxiety Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa. jemuller@sun.ac.za
Current Psychiatry Reports
|August 16, 2005
Summary
Anxiety disorders frequently co-occur with various medical conditions. Understanding these links offers insights into the neurobiology of anxiety and its complex relationship with physical health.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neurology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Anxiety symptoms and disorders are frequently observed alongside general medical conditions.
- The relationship between anxiety and medical disorders can stem from physiological, psychological, treatment-related, or coincidental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the established associations between specific anxiety disorders and various general medical conditions.
- To highlight how these comorbidities can inform our understanding of anxiety disorder neurobiology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of anxiety disorders and their common medical comorbidities.
- Categorization of associations based on specific anxiety disorders (panic, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, posttraumatic stress).
Main Results:
- Panic disorder is linked to seizure disorders, Klüver-Bucy syndrome, mitral valve prolapse, and respiratory issues.
- Generalized anxiety disorder shows associations with COPD, cardiovascular, and endocrine disorders.
- Social anxiety disorder is linked to Parkinson's disease; OCD with striatal disorders; PTSD with head injury and pain.
Conclusions:
- Comorbidities between anxiety disorders and medical conditions are prevalent and multifaceted.
- These associations provide valuable data for investigating the neurobiological underpinnings of anxiety.
- Further research into these links can improve integrated patient care and treatment strategies.